The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-31

wealth could tell strange stories II
they could talk. My friend went 10
pursuit of cook. She had chased
this animal to lair in East Six.
teenth street. where, in q towering
rear tenement house, dwelt unoount-
ed families. She had passed through
a paved court in which a dripping
hydrant had formed hideous pool,
and about the Shiny edges played a
dirtylo lot Of miserable children, grlmy,
unkempt little hoodlums; but 10 the
arms of the biggest and lthiest, a
girl OF dozen years, was a sickly
child of as many months that attract
ed her attention. 1t was an angelic,
fair little creature, and the pale gold
hair shone in that dismal court, so
carefully had it been kept. The tiny
fingers that lay listlessly on a grimy
old rag Of a petticoat we're unsull, led +,
and altogether the b.by was an ex-
otto among weeds. The lady Won
dered, as she picked her way through
the offensive place and climbed the
stairs to q murky little room on the
fourth floor. The hunted cook had
gone to see place, so her sister said.
As the visitor stood talking of the
cooks probable return, she saw on a
bed a magnificent cashmere embroid-
cred cloak, little cap of rich lace,
and pile Of lawn and flannel baby
petticoats. The incongruity OF this
outfit with the squalid room strucv
her as forcibly as the pale flower Of
a child In the courtyard below.
shes shure to be home by foive,
num-" said the sister, and the lady
agreed to return at that hour.
Going out, she asked the child
nurse in the yard who the baby was
that she carried.
ITS me little brother--iwat are
ye giving me" replied the hoodlum,
and the lady fed, frightened at the
impudent remarks of the gang.
Nevertheless, at 8 o'clock she ven
tured to return, and as she went up
stairs she overlook a much dressed
and very much flushed young woman
bearing the blonde baby on her hip.
The poor things face was smeared
with dirt, and its little hands bore
evidence it had been creeping on the
green and reeking bricks Of the court
yard. Into the cooks sisters room
bounced the girl, aud while the lady
talked TO the prospective servant, the
child was hastily cleaned and put into
the rich clothes that still covered
the bed. In the shadow Of the inner
apartment this operation was per.
formed, while scraps OF conversation
about the presence of Tim Kelly aud
Andy McGee at Joness woods in
formed the lady that the nurse girl
had been 10 picnic.
Ny friend hurried away and, get
ting into her coupe, babe the driver
never lose sight OF a girl and a baby
when they should come out. In a
few minutes the chase began, up
avenue A TO Twenty-third street,
behind a cross town car 10 Madison
avenue in the rear OF a stage till the
girl climbed out at Thirty-seventh
street and ran along q couple OF
blocks to q stately man,ion aud dis
appeared into the basement. The
excited lady went up the steps, and
when her summons were answered by
a bortly butler she asked TO see the
mistress at once The wife and
mother soon heard the story. IL was
a fine situation when that nurse girl
was called up and asked about her
afternoon. She had been in Central
Park all the time Ito let her tell it) ;
had had the baby in the donkey carts
and watching the soups. aud then
rode down in the Broadway cars. No
words could express the thanks be-
slowed on thu informer. But for the
discovery they were going 10 take the
faithless creature n Europe. Time
and time again when this delicate
child was supposed 10 be taking the
air OF the parks il had been stripped
Of its fine clothes. in order TO keep
them fresh, dressed in dirty thin rags
instead Of warm hanuols. and left 10
contract disease ia the fetid court
ward Of a sickening tenement build
ing.